Ledwinka



Jan. 8, 1935. J. LEDWlNKA 1,937,199

FRAME STRUCTURE FOR PORCH SWINGS OR THE LIKE Filed July 30, 19:51

I NV EN TOR. J SEPH LE owmm Patented Jan. 8 1935 UNITED STATES FRAME STRUCTURE FOR PORCH SWINGS I OR THE LIKE Joseph Ledwinka, Philadelphia, Pa. assignor to Edward -G. Buddj Manufacturing Company,

' vania Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsyl- Apnlication'July so, 1931, Serial N0.'554,Q00

9 Claims.

The invention relates to porch swing frames or the like, and particularly to such frames fabricated out of sheet metal.

Heretofore, such frames have commonly been s'constructed of flat or angle section rolled stock,

noisesydue to looseness in the joints, and were generally more or less unsightly in appearance.

It is a main object of the invention to overcome these objections, and I attainjthis object 'by constructing the parts of such frame of light gauge sheet metal so formed (and integrally joined together as to adequately interbrace the vertical and horizontal parts, the structure of the frame being generally of hollow cross section to insure great strength with a minimum of weight,

and the sheet metal lending its'elfto variety of design, by embossing or otherwise, and producing in the finished product, particularly after painting or enameling, a very attractive appearance, a, very desirable feature in apiece of furniture of this kind. The sheet metal frame lends itself further to the decoration in designs harmonizing to the furniture associated with it, and also to the integral j oinder of the variousv stampings of "which it is composedby that simplest and most facile method ofjoinder, namely, spot welding.

This integral joinder producesjsmooth joints re-,

quiring 'little or no cleaning operations and renders the structures so joined very rigid, strong and durable, and free from .thedevelopment of squeaks orother noises with use.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification I have indicated a specific ,form of construction according to my invention.

but it will be obvious to those skilled'in the art that modifications and variations may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the claims appended hereto.

In the drawing,

according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is an end elevational' view on an larged scale of the outside face of one of the unitary end frame'members. I

Fig. 3 is a corresponding view of the inside face of one of the end frame members, parts being broken away to show the interior.

Figs. 4, 5, 6, '7, 8 and 9 are detail sectional views taken, respectively, on the correspondingly numbered section lines indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and Fig. 1 is a side elevationalview of a swing frame 7 3 and seen in the direction indicated by-thev arrows atthe ends of the sectionlines. 1

The frame'of the invention comprises unitary end frame members or standards designated generally by the numerals 10 and 11 and a connect-, 5 ing member 12 detachably but rigidly intercon' necting the unitary end frame members ,adjacent their lower portions. The detachable con-f nection is for the purposeof knock-down. and storageor shipment incompactforni. Since the 10'" endsframe members orstafndardsilfl. and 11 are alikelinf all respects, exbebt. that they face in opposite directions, j'thef' detailed" description of I one of them willsufiic'e.

Each standard comprises upperand lower cross' members'13 and 14 and avertical column 15'in-" terconnecting them.

The lower: cross member 14 forms the base of. the standard and is somewhat wider than the top member [13 togive afirm and {stablefoundation. The base is' of'hollow cross section and is con veniently formed of two sidestampings 16 and 17" extending from end toend and'separate 1 cover strips 18, '19, Cone for each lateral extension of the'base spot welded 'toithe inwardly extending flanges 20and ZI fOrmeH-onthe respective side. stampings and forming with the, side'stampings' a generally downwardly presentingchannel sec-A tion- The lateral extensions 'jofQthe base: are tapered from thecentral portion outwarmy and... have their topformed of ,a reverse curvature to produce a pleasing appearance and to effectively, brace thefe'nds of the base to the, central column 15. At their extreme ends the lateral extensions of thebase are'preferably provided with, shallow downward extensions22, 23 forming feet through. which the standardsrest upon. the floor. The side stampings are flangedinwardly at23', 24.alongtheir lower edges, tostrength'enthe section and x to provide means at the ends/for the securement of suitable floor contacting devices, such as sheet; .metal plates 25,.spot welded to the flanges 231.,- and 24 and having downwardly projecting domes 25 pressed into them.

upward extension 26 forming'a flange aroundan, opening in the bottom of the channel section of the base. This. upward extension provides a; flange around the opening adaptedto telescopi-. I cally receive 'the colu mn 15-and the outerface of this flange forms a smooth extension of the outer face of the column, as will presently app ar. a 1 The upper cross member .13 from the, ends ofj which the "swing is suspended, is formed out or "5 Centrally the base 14 is formed with a shallow pla and 36 to theiouter face a single stamping of downwardly presenting channel cross section, having tapered lateral extensions and a downwardly extending'flange 27 around a central opening adapted to telescopicale ly receive the top of the column 15.

This member 13 has its top substantially flat and the' -lower walls of; the lateral extensions thereof inclined downwardly and inwardly, the side walls being provided with, at their lower edges, inwardly extending flanges 28 and 29. base of the channel is flanged downwardly at its ends and the side walls are'correspondingly in; wardly flanged at the ends and to these flanges may conveniently be secured as by spottweldirig,

45, which gives the structure in effect, a box section. To form a wide base for connecting the cross member 12 to the end frames or standards 10 and 11, a channel 46 is telescoped over each end of the member and spot welded to its side walls. Portions of the base wall of the channel are turned in at '47" and 48 and spot weldd respectively to the base wall 49and the flanges 4'2 and 43 of the channel. In securing the cross member. 12 detachably to the end frames and 11, 10

its channel reinforcedrend is telescoped within the channel 39 and thedepressed seat formed in a tapped plate 30 to whichthe' bearing bracl'rets 31 may be secured by screws" 32'; a

By reason of the openness of the section of the top and bottom members 13 and-.14; O1 I their lower sides, access can be readily had for spot welding the parts together.

.Thes t a r e umn. liints s nec i h o and bottom" 'cr members is made very, strong rigid against' compressional and torsional strains:- and of verygsimjplef construction by, constituting' it, in effect, of a double box section consttiigitibngas shownim Fig.1 6,, It is made of a the stamping 16 and secured above and below the channel: by the bolts 50" and wing nuts 51. The bolts can be prevented from turning by having squared shankportion's engaging a corresponding hole in the reinforcing member 39. This. contr t iqnlnmv desa:very g d and s ron nte connection between the parts, and one which permitsreadyassembly and dis-assembly of the end lsle; tamb n jha v n o ter ah 133 flat; o

substantially so to conform with'tlie fiat outer iaces'of the end cross members and its side edges bent aroundto' form thebox sections 33' and 34 and secured throug'li' the lateral edgei'flanges 35 rtion 33." ,By-th'iscone tibn portions 33' aha-34,511 inwardlyifacing channel 37 which is utilized for securing the end frame em e s-mama w lynf es l r r- 1' The ends of 'thecolui'nn 15' whichgaretelescopie al y re e ith nhe ng d3b n n olvided in the top and'bottom crossfmembers are central' hollowpolumnlof inwardly fac fis war ly 3 nd. 96th h depth e u to the" thickness or the metal; sq ithat the'jouter faces of the cglumnjand crossjmembers flow,

m h y/theme m d h her; and, t epa s are strongly; interconnectedtthroughout their not/ l ing t es 'pe tst etnermay beghadj.

vr e bin n by no -we din Access. or

fli Qn hth ope i s-7 .0, pr id d i t e inner wall of fthebox section jportions 3,3? and 34 of the;

column 15, where'these onenihgs are notobj'ednumber ofv spot welds. a To continue the channel 37 downwardly a dis-' tancesuflicient to give a'wide bearing seat for the secur ment of thecross connecting member 12, the 'inner stamping16 of the base member 14'is fQiTnPdjWith a' depressed portion 38 of substan- A reinforcing and securing channel 39 is spot wi ed; t ui l dq si hech n a and its base extendeddown by an extension 40 inside the stamping 1 6 and s pot welded thereto. Foradditional stiffness and strength this reinforce is be of" a downwardly, presenting channel section,

as blearly'indicatedin Figs. 3 and; (having inarfi vi xtjendi s s #51 5 we, dn t e e s of its side walls. For additional stiffness and strength the edges of its base wall may be head O t 4 .a1i hefl n fi nd a connected at spaced pointsbv transverse strips within saidffianged opening, and

frames, andwcross members when desired...-

What I claiinifs; 1. A light. gauge sheet m'talaend fiamef f porch swings or the like comprisin'gafwidend base portion of" downwardly; pr "ntingcha Iel -s'c',-. 25 tion havihga central, open g t eremgan p turned fla sjaro' aid .Oi fii aja d a l ld n section "column of. double, box sectiofiftele'scoped .se-#

2. A relativelylightweight sheeti inetalj end frame for porch swings of". the. like comprising, a widened uppe'r cross member of downwardly rie;

'senti ng ohahnel.,forti'i'and having a cefi:

traldownward extensions: its side w 11 and a es h ow te scopes. withinlthef ion and 'i ritegrauyi flanged channel. section nt wnwerdfi cured to said side wall t, E said channels/being inwardly flanged a 'd can;

tral flanged opening formed inthe bottom wallo' A5,;v

the channel for. telescopically receiving a. 'iier'ti columnar rri en'i ber. v a r 4; "A.to cmss member for an end framemem; ber of a'. porch swin'g'pr the nkeeombrisinganl integral stamping of, do wnwardly presentingg'm channelhaving tapered ends trades en pen-J tion of uniformfdepth, 'thef'sidekwalls of. the central, portion being extended down 'thegtapered end portions having their Iside, Walls, flanged in? wardly, the inwardlyextendin g flanges. and the downward extension forming a flanged .opningtd telescopically receive the upper end ofv a support ing column. I

'5. 'An end frame, member for the like comprising upper and ljowe 'e't 30?; metal, Tcross members ofdownw'a'rdly.present ngchannel form having taperedendpportioiis,andfa vertically deepened central portion 'betweensaid tapered end portions, the vertically'deepened cen tral portion of theglower member, ingits botmember having inwardly facjing hollow box so tion flanges joining said cross membersfand ha ing itsend's in telescoping relationiwi'thf thfesi e" walls of said channel cross membersand inter" 5:; rally securedjthereto. f I f '6. An end fra me member for porch swin s or the likehaving an upper cross. member. fromlthe ends of which the swing orthe likeis suspended,v I said cross memberbeing formed adjacentitsends tom wall removed, and}; sneetjm ai'cammns r,

of downwardly presenting channel cross section, and, integral flanges from the base and side walls of said channel and a reinforcing block secured to certain of said flanges and from which the swing is adapted to be suspended.

7. An end frame member for porch swings or the like having a transverse base member having its ends formed of downwardly presenting channel section, the side walls of said channel being flanged inwardly, and a domed foot plate secured to the flanges.

8. A cross member for connecting the end frames or-standards of a porch swing or the like comprising a sheet metal stamping of generally downwardly presenting channel section, and a channel section end plate secured through its flanges to the side walls of said stamping and through a tab from its web to the bottom wall of the channel.

9. A frame for porch swings or the like having an end standard of generally hollow cross section provided with an inwardly presenting channel, and achannel reinforce telescoped within said first-named channel and spot welded to its side walls, said channel reinforce being adapted to re ceive the end of a cross member, and means for securing the cross member to said reinforce.

JOSEPH LEDWINKA. 

